Ever since 2003, when voters passed the Proposition K transportation sales tax, San Franciscans have been preparing for the creation of dedicated bus rapid transit lanes, called the Geary BRT, to improve travel times for the 38 bus. The plans have been contentious: while environmentalists have celebrated BRT’s potential to reduce carbon emissions, others have warned of parking losses and impacts to businesses, and seniors and the disabled have agonized over lost bus stops.

Those red transit-only lanes whisking buses across The City apparently aren’t just for Muni.

Private commuter shuttles for the tech industry, hospital shuttles, casino buses and — potentially — even the private transit company Chariot may all use some of the soon-to-come red lanes on Geary Boulevard, a public records request by transit advocates has revealed.

That revelation is drawing public criticism of the newest red lanes up for approval at the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency Board of Directors Tuesday meeting, when the directors may approve parking changes to allow the Geary Rapid project, formerly known as Geary BRT, to move forward.

The SFMTA has spent millions promoting BRT in San Francisco while fully knowing that it’s promised time savings for young commuters is built upon deep service cuts to Seniors and Disabled MUNI riders. The Agency has failed to report data projecting an increase in use of SF Paratransit as a result of the Bus Stop removals planned for GearyRapid and GearyBRT. The following 72 questions for SMTA Staff is designed to uncover the politics and money at stake that has motivated San Francisco’s Elected Officials to unanimously grant the SFMTA unprecedented authority to move GearyBRT forward, regardless of the negative impact upon Seniors and Disabled MUNI riders who depend upon their currently available MUNI Bus Stops to live independently with dignity.

For those who prioritize rolling out GearyBRT over the welfare of San Francisco's elderly and disabled, there's no need to read further. For those who care deeply about public transit as well as for seniors and the disabled to have equal dignity and unfettered use of public transit bus service, read on.

The City was aware contractors planned to purchase what officials now say was the wrong type of steel for the Central Subway’s tracks as far back as 2015, new documents obtained by the San Francisco Examiner suggest.

The revelation comes after transportation officials called for construction contractors to pull those tracks out and replace them, alleging the contractors purchased and installed the wrong type of steel. Emails obtained by the Examiner, however, show the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency had knowledge that the steel was ordered by contractors three years ago.

The opening of Muni’s Central Subway from Caltrain to Chinatown is already a year behind schedule, but it could be pushed into 2020 after the discovery that a contractor installed 3.2 miles of the wrong grade of rail.

San Francisco’s $1.6 billion Central Subway project, already a year behind schedule, is facing a new challenge.

John Funghi, the Municipal Transportation Agency engineer who has overseen the big dig for 11 years, has been recruited to honcho Caltrain’s $1.9 billion conversion of its rail service from diesel to electric trains. He starts in February.

As the San Francisco Municipal Transit Agency’s (SFMTA) new Islais Creek facility nears completion, a coalition of labor and environmental groups who helped spearhead its approval feel like they’ve been stranded at the proverbial bus stop.

Concerned with The City’s allegedly mismanaged transit policies, supervisors Aaron Peskin and Ahsha Safai have told stakeholders they plan introduce a June 2018 ballot measure that would split the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, which manages Muni as well as San Francisco’s streets, stoplights, parking and curb colors.

Under the proposal, one agency would handle just Muni, and the other would handle San Francisco’s parking and streets, sources with knowledge of the measure told the San Francisco Examiner.

The City has awarded a new transportation contract to a company connected with a federal indictment and alleged bid-rigging scheme, the San Francisco Examiner has learned.

Butler Enterprise Group, LLC was awarded two $1.6 million public outreach contracts by the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency on Aug. 15. Meanwhile, the company’s controversial president, Derf Butler, is facing a federal indictment for an alleged bid-rigging scheme to defraud the U.S. Department of Energy.